Govt orders high-level probe into Chate topper’s issue

MUMBAI, JUNE 3: The Congress-led Democratic Front Government on Saturday set up a high level task force headed by Joint Commissioner of Po...

MUMBAI, JUNE 3: The Congress-led Democratic Front Government on Saturday set up a high level task force headed by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) D Shivanandan to probe into the Chate episode.

"Earlier we were planning to ask the CID to probe into the allegations against the Chate classes and its director Macchindra. However, now a high-level task force should be set up for the purpose. Accordingly, we have asked Shivanandan to conduct a probe into all aspects of the Chate episode in a time-bound period," Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.

On the terms of reference, Bhujbal said besides all the Chate classes records, the task force will also examine the merit-list declared by the Maharashtra State Board of Higher Secondary Education as well as the Divisional Boards for the last three years. "The task force will verify if the students, who figure in the merit list, had really joined the Chhate classes as claimed by its director Macchindra," Bhujbal said.

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Bhujbal said the task force has been directed to probe Macchindra Chate has links with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde as has been alleged by Minister of State for Education Anil Deshmukh. "Since the charge has been made by Deshmukh, who has been associated with the education department for a long time, I am sure there must be some substance in the allegations," Bhujbal said.

Though Shivanandan has jurisdiction for the metropolis, it will not affect the probe, since he will seek help from his counterparts in Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur and Nagpur, from where large number of complaints against the Chate Classes have been received, he added.

Earlier, Bhujbal had a brief meeting with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) M R Patil and Commissioner of Police M N Singh on setting up of the task force.

Chate had allegedly forced his entry into the ante-chamber of Anil Deshmukh to seek his clarification on the controversy over the topper of the HSSC examination. Madan Nagargoje, who was felicitated by the Chate classes, had denied that he was never associated with the Chate classes, while Deshmukh had alleged that Chate was misleading the entire student community by claiming that Nagargoje was associated with the Chate classes.

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On the other hand, Macchindra Chate had claimed that Madan Nagargoje was regularly attending the Chate Coaching Classes and Deshmukh’s statement was false. Subsequently, on the basis of the complaint lodged by Deshmukh, Chate was arrested by the Cuffe Parade police station and later released on bail, while Chate has filed a private complaint against Deshmukh for illegally confining in his chamber for well over 45 minutes.

In a related development, Anil Deshmukh claimed that he has sufficient evidence to prove that Munde has links with Chate. Munde challenged the Education Minister and asked him to prove the charge. "I am prepared to retire from politics if it is proved that I am partner of Chate. If Deshmukh fails to prove it, then he should retire from politics," Munde said.

Newly elected State BJP president Pandurang Phundkar has given 15 days ultimatum to Anil Deshmukh to prove his charge. "If he fails to prove the charge within 15 days, we will not allow Deshmukh to move in the State. His entry in all the districts including his home town Nagpur will be blocked by BJP workers," Phundkar said.